[kaonwarb]

Bingo. While understandable, I fear the need to justify nearly all research by potential foreseeable gain limits our ability to invest in truly fundamental science.

[bonoboTP]

Well, researchers have learned to play the game and with enough creativity you can make up potential applications for grant writing purposes.

[wongarsu]

Yes, grant-style funding is really bad for basic research. For where larger institutes have the advantage: a few prestigious findings can bring the funding to do a lot of less glamorous stuff on the side.